How to Frontside 5-0 Grind

On a 5-0 grind, you grind on the back truck only. I think it’s actually easier than an ollie manual on an obstacle, because you don’t have to get the full distance or land perfectly straight. You just have to get up there and put the tail down.

Before you start

You should be able to do 50-50 grinds, which are pretty simple. You should also be able to hold a manual on flat for a little while.

Pick a good spot

Lower is better for this one. On a 5-0 you have to ollie way above the obstacle and then put the tail down, so you need to clear it easily. Nosegrinds and crooked grinds are actually easier on something a little higher. For the 5-0, start with something low, comfortable and easy to grind.

Foot position

Your foot position depends on the obstacle and how good your ollies are, but here’s a good starting point.

• Back foot: in a stable position covering as much of the tail as possible. You’re landing back on the tail, so if your foot is way out on the tip for the biggest pop, you’ll have to find the tail in the air. Popping from a stable position makes it easier to land. Higher obstacles will need more pop, but keep your back foot stable.
• Front foot: wherever helps you ollie, but you’ll want to land it pretty far up for balance.

Optional warm-up

If you want to feel more comfortable before trying the trick, set your board next to the curb, ollie up and put the tail down on it. It doesn’t feel exactly like a 5-0, since the real trick has an approach angle that helps you get up there. But it helps you get confident with the height. You can skip it and jump right in.

How to 5-0 grind

1. Approach at a mild angle

I approach with as little angle as possible to keep my speed going forward. If you come in at a sharp angle and hit the obstacle, it slows you down.

I also like to land in the middle instead of grinding off the end. That might be how I learned. I had boxes in my driveway sitting in the grass, so I had to roll up, grind and land back off the same side. I like it better because you’re not forced to land when the ledge ends. You can land when you start to lose balance or speed.

2. Ollie higher than you think

As you get close, pop a lot harder than you think you’ll need. On a set of bleachers, you almost have to ollie like you’re going to 50-50 the next step up. Go way above it and then put the tail down.

It doesn’t look like it on video, because the tail stays low the whole way, but you are doing a real ollie, leveling it out and then pushing the tail down. If you just drag the tail down while trying to get up, the board keeps going up and you hit the side of the ledge.

3. Push the tail in under you

This makes a really big difference. Push the tail ahead into the middle of your body instead of moving your weight backward. If you ollie up and lean back, you’re more likely to slip out. Pushing the tail under you locks you in more solid.

4. Drag the tail or don’t

This is completely a style choice, and both are legit. Some of mine drag, some don’t. My idea of a perfect 5-0 is with the tail close to dragging. Halfway between, it can look more like a manual. With 100% of your weight on the tail, it looks more like a 5-0, but some people don’t like that look either. You can also grind it at a slight angle. Do what feels comfortable.

5. Hop off

To get off, I push the board ahead a little so it starts to turn, and when it’s at the right point, I pull it off. The truck is locked in and I just lift it off. It feels like dropping off a curb at an angle: lift up, hop a little and pull the board off.

The 5-0 is halfway done for you. You don’t have to lift the nose. It’s already up.

The other option is just riding off the end. I don’t really do them that way, but it might be easier for you.

Troubleshooting

The board tips over when you land

Get locked in as close to the wheel as you can. Then the board is mostly flat and coming off feels like dropping off a curb. On one of the curbs I filmed, I couldn’t get fully on top of it, so I was grinding the middle of the truck with the board tipped way over. When I tried to come off, the board sometimes just tipped over. That’s the spot, not the technique, so pick an obstacle you can get fully on top of.

What’s next

The backside 5-0, the frontside nosegrind and the crooked grind are good next grinds. Remember those last two are easier on something a little higher.